List Mgmt. 2026 List Management

[Taylor]

As was noted in the earlier reply, this is a dissimilar situation coz you have an actual marquee player leaving from a club that's not at the dregs of the ladder. One of the few times that that combo of circs happened was Jeremy Cameron and that was matched. Dangerfield is a less clean example of this, but he qualified as an RFA and Geelong went straight to trade, presumably because they knew that Adelaide would match the bid and chase for more than pick 14 for Danger.

Apart from a Starcevich situation where the clubs are trying to have their cake and eat it too, truly marquee players leaving not complete crap clubs is the situation RFA bids get matched coz the compo isn't satisfactory. It happens rarely, so matched bids happen rarely too.

Given Zak Butters is very likely to leave, we don't have to wait til Chad's decision to see this play out. Unless Port are at the dregs of the ladder (which isn't impossible), I'd expect a matched bid.

I think it will entirely depend on the club getting Butters' ability to offer higher value in trade than pick #3.

I also think Chad Warner is a better player because he is a chance to go home to WA than players already in WA, who perform better, are rated externally. Not trying to kick the tyres, but Warner isn't the best player in his side like Butters is, Warner is in the top three in my opinion and you can raffle whether Gulden is at 2nd.

But because he might come home he is higher rated.

I don't think it will matter. WC finish last and they also like him, then the other threat wheels out that barely ever gets used, the PSD, and we start to argue over whether Fremantle getting Chad as a free agent, or Sydney matching it for a trade gives Sydney or Freo the leverage over Warner because WC will get him for free right after anyway if no deal is done.

Dangerfield was offered more money to stay at Adelaide but wanted to go home so much he took a pay cut for it, Cameron was going to a club with bulk first round picks and from a club that was losing two band one free agents.

These are rare circumstances.

 

[AstonSouffle]

Genuinely what's the go, if let's say West Coast put a bid in and then Sydney match but then elect to not do the trade - could Freo then put in a lower bid (and assumedly Sydney would match this too) and then force a trade?

 

[Taylor]

Genuinely what's the go, if let's say West Coast put a bid in and then Sydney match but then elect to not do the trade - could Freo then put in a lower bid (and assumedly Sydney would match this too) and then force a trade?

I haven't seen a rule disallowing a second submission of the free agency form unless you take a very literal interpretation of the rules which state that the player has the option to either request the trade OR accept the matched offer OR enter the draft in the event of a matching.

Being traded to another club may not be allowed, we wouldn't be able to lodge a second form over it.

 

[theGav56]

Having these senior players locked in like this is actually massive for the culture. Significantly increases the chances of guys like Reid sticking around, knowing he'll be directly under Brayshaw, Young and Serong for the next 7 years

It is indeed, but it has a potential downside.

How close would Erasmus have been to leaving if he didn't get that decent run of games last season? Or if Fyfe extended? Are there similar implications this year with with O'Meara blocking development?

Where does Ollie Murphy sit contract-wise? With Draper debuting and then dropping back, and McDonald seemingly next in line, are they confident of their development timelines leading to competitive contracts? Murphy and Draper could easily be 3 years away from a crack at best 23.

I'm not sprouting doom and gloom. It has echoes of the Geelong list management, which has kept them in contention for a long time. But that model played a big part in us grabbing Clark, and losing Meek.

I hope for meaningful opportunities to come the way of players deserving that chance of development at the highest level. If we do that and hold them, our depth will become incredible.

If we lose them we may find ways to improve our draft hands.

And can of course chat endlessly about pursuing Chad.

 

[Purple Suit]

Genuinely what's the go, if let's say West Coast put a bid in and then Sydney match but then elect to not do the trade - could Freo then put in a lower bid (and assumedly Sydney would match this too) and then force a trade?

He's a gun player, he's going to pick where he wants to go and get there. 2 clubs won't lodge paperwork as there is only going to be one winner if he wants to return.

Swans will have a bit of leverage regardless but Warner is also managed by a big group so that means that either Sydney or a new club can't play hardball too much or risk upsetting future deals. If Sydney don't make the 8 that year then I think they are just taking the compo pick.

 

[Jezzitizle]

He's a gun player, he's going to pick where he wants to go and get there. 2 clubs won't lodge paperwork as there is only going to be one winner if he wants to return.

Swans will have a bit of leverage regardless but Warner is also managed by a big group so that means that either Sydney or a new club can't play hardball too much or risk upsetting future deals. If Sydney don't make the 8 that year then I think they are just taking the compo pick.

Long odds they take compo, the would want at least 2 firsts including a high one.

They won’t be finishing last where the compo is an absolute top pick.

 

[Superkoops]

Even longer odds now the compo picks will start from 9 and if a club lower than port has band 1 that would then be 10 which after f/s and academy could start at 14. No chance port would settle for that .

 

[DQ 4EVER]

Looks like Nick Daicos & Butters are enjoying their time in WA.
Surely they ask to join the purple destination club for unders & in exchange for a couple of second round picks

 

[freo_leo29]

Even longer odds now the compo picks will start from 9 and if a club lower than port has band 1 that would then be 10 which after f/s and academy could start at 14. No chance port would settle for that .

Yeah, Butters is going for 3 first rounders now for sure, mostly futures but 9 aint gonna get close to Port not matching

 

[theGav56]

Yeah, Butters is going for 3 first rounders now for sure, mostly futures but 9 aint gonna get close to Port not matching

Future picks won't be super attractive either.

 

[freo_leo29]

Future picks won't be super attractive either.

Nope but he is OOC so port will take everything they can, 3 firsts will be the starting point though

 

[Lach72]

He's a gun player, he's going to pick where he wants to go and get there. 2 clubs won't lodge paperwork as there is only going to be one winner if he wants to return.

Swans will have a bit of leverage regardless but Warner is also managed by a big group so that means that either Sydney or a new club can't play hardball too much or risk upsetting future deals. If Sydney don't make the 8 that year then I think they are just taking the compo pick.

Yeah I don’t think we’re going to have much to offer Sydney.
Even with future picks we’d struggle to match anything West Coast could offer.

I don’t think we will lose anyone that will get us a first round pick either.

 

[David Bubb]

 

[Superkoops]

Honestly can’t see us realistically being in the market for Warner. West Coast were all over him and his manager like a rash. Don Pyke previously at Sydney and having a game of golf with Warner. Yes JL and Walls etc. had a lunch at Rockpool or whatever with Warner. This is just my theory but Warner’s gone West Coast are going to remain crapola for a couple more years at least. Then see where they are at in 2 years when he is eligible for free agent. So he signs for 2 years.

We will no doubt have a crack but unless we are willing to trade out a good player we won’t have the pieces to get a trade done. Similar to Cerra with Melbourne. He nominates Carlton even though impressed with Melbourne’s pitch. At that point they were coming off having won the big dance and weren’t willing to trade Luke Jackson

9

Luke Jackson

Age

24

Ht

199cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

3star

K

3.3

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

.

 

[Jezzitizle]

Honestly can’t see us realistically being in the market for Warner. West Coast were all over him and his manager like a rash. Don Pyke previously at Sydney and having a game of golf with Warner. Yes JL and Walls etc. had a lunch at Rockpool or whatever with Warner. This is just my theory but Warner’s gone West Coast are going to remain crapola for a couple more years at least. Then see where they are at in 2 years when he is eligible for free agent. So he signs for 2 years.

We will no doubt have a crack but unless we are willing to trade out a good player we won’t have the pieces to get a trade done. Similar to Cerra with Melbourne. He nominates Carlton even though impressed with Melbourne’s pitch. At that point they were coming off having won the big dance and weren’t willing to trade Luke Jackson.

A lot depends on how some of our players perform over the next 2 years, especially Johnson, Ras and Reid.

And probably on whether we look like a winning team then too.

Let alone whatever is going on in his personal life, how Sydney are going etc etc.

Path to madness trying to get a read on it now.

 

[Taylor]

If Freo is ahead of Sydney and WC in terms of a flag opportunity it will go a long way towards bringing in talent for less than market (read: WC offer) rate.

 

[chaosball32]

It is indeed, but it has a potential downside.

How close would Erasmus have been to leaving if he didn't get that decent run of games last season? Or if Fyfe extended? Are there similar implications this year with with O'Meara blocking development?

Where does Ollie Murphy sit contract-wise? With Draper debuting and then dropping back, and McDonald seemingly next in line, are they confident of their development timelines leading to competitive contracts? Murphy and Draper could easily be 3 years away from a crack at best 23.

I'm not sprouting doom and gloom. It has echoes of the Geelong list management, which has kept them in contention for a long time. But that model played a big part in us grabbing Clark, and losing Meek.

I hope for meaningful opportunities to come the way of players deserving that chance of development at the highest level. If we do that and hold them, our depth will become incredible.

If we lose them we may find ways to improve our draft hands.

And can of course chat endlessly about pursuing Chad.

As you said, pros and cons.

Pros: good for culture, stability, and you’d assume the trade-off for the security that comes with longer deals would be lesser wages.

Cons: inflexible, gambling on long-term progression and fitness, lesser incentive (dependent on the individual) to keep performing knowing you have a guaranteed contract.

Admittedly not a big fan of long-term deals as I think they pose too much risk. I think Young has the potential to be the best player in the league and am still not all that happy with him being contracted to 2033 given his injury history. We extended him in 2024 so essentially a 9 year deal! I think anything past 5 is overkill.

And I won’t mention Darcy till 2030 because clearly I’m in the minority view here of that being a bad deal.

Serong is one exception for me; incredibly consistent, captain material, and rarely ever injured (touch wood). A no-brainer to lock him in long-term. Could probably add Brayshaw and Treacy to that list.

I think we have the most players contracted long-term out of any club in the league which again, can be viewed as a positive and a negative.

Semi-related but it is frustrating that some of our most important players are a dice-roll with injuries; Pearce, Young, Darcy, Switta etc. Before them it was Fyfe. Part of the reason why I think availability is more important then potential.

 

[Rockmelon]

Honestly can’t see us realistically being in the market for Warner. West Coast were all over him and his manager like a rash. Don Pyke previously at Sydney and having a game of golf with Warner. Yes JL and Walls etc. had a lunch at Rockpool or whatever with Warner. This is just my theory but Warner’s gone West Coast are going to remain crapola for a couple more years at least. Then see where they are at in 2 years when he is eligible for free agent. So he signs for 2 years.

We will no doubt have a crack but unless we are willing to trade out a good player we won’t have the pieces to get a trade done. Similar to Cerra with Melbourne. He nominates Carlton even though impressed with Melbourne’s pitch. At that point they were coming off having won the big dance and weren’t willing to trade Luke Jackson.

Reckon if Sydney wins a flag he'll end up at WC. if they dont i think he stays at the Swans or comes to Freo.

Cant see him leaving a team that contending and going to a team in the bottom 4, especially after he's had two heartbreaking GF losses

 

[Paracleet]

Warner is fantasy stuff. As if we're going to have room in the cap for someone like that. He's going to the Bin Chickens or staying. Bookmark it.

 

[Alfonz]

The only way we I could see us landing Warner is if we lose one of our own marquee players and it essentially becomes a swap. Serong was the one contract wise that could have been at risk, but that's off the table now.

 

[Duz97]

Chad Warner

1

Chad Warner

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.0

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.0

1star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

4star

CL

0.0

1star

would have to be the most over rated player in the league and has a very me me me attitude. I think he’s worth 750-850 so if they could get him for that much then yeah probs worth it to be the 4th best mid in the team. 1.5m minimum no thanks would rather go all out on someone like butters ( pipe dream) or a Sam Taylor

15

Sam Taylor

Age

26

Ht

198cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.1

4star

MG

130.5

2star

D

8.0

2star

K

2.5

1star

HB

5.5

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.5

3star

MG

60.8

1star

D

8.6

3star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.2

2star

T

2.8

5star

MG

110.8

2star

/ Lawson Humpries

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Chad Warner would have to be the most over rated player in the league and has a very me me me attitude. I think he’s worth 750-850 so if they could get him for that much then yeah probs worth it to be the 4th best mid in the team. 1.5m minimum no thanks would rather go all out on someone like butters ( pipe dream) or a Sam Taylor/ Lawson Humpries

He kicked 35 goals from the midfield...

He's definitely a purely offensive player but every team dreams of a 24 touch, 1.5 goal a game mid. I think we made our bed taking Bolton instead but 750-850 in the new CBA is CRAZY

 

[Joao]

Chad Warner would have to be the most over rated player in the league and has a very me me me attitude. I think he’s worth 750-850 so if they could get him for that much then yeah probs worth it to be the 4th best mid in the team. 1.5m minimum no thanks would rather go all out on someone like butters ( pipe dream) or a Sam Taylor/ Lawson Humpries

I'm trying to reconcile rating Chad at 750-850 but willing to go all out on Lawson Humphries.

 

[Duz97]

I'm trying to reconcile rating Chad at 750-850 but willing to go all out on Lawson Humphries.

Not saying Humpries is worth 1.5 but for 600-800k I’d rather pay Humpries that then pay 1.5 for Warner

 

[Duz97]

He kicked 35 goals from the midfield...

He's definitely a purely offensive player but every team dreams of a 24 touch, 1.5 goal a game mid. I think we made our bed taking Bolton instead but 750-850 in the new CBA is CRAZY

Yeah I don’t know just don’t rate him personally has his moments in game but I wouldn’t have him in the top 30-40 mids